Motivation & Music in Swimming

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Motivation and The Place for Music in Swimming

Use Music As Swimming Motivation

From Brendan Dedekind,for About.com

Brendon Dedekind was the first South African male swimmer to win an International Gold

Medal. He has a wealth of swimming experience, which he shares on the About.com

Swimming site.

 

If you have ever been to a swim meet, you have seen it – swimmers sitting in a corner,

lying on the floor, walking around or even in the ready room with their earphones on and

music pumping. In my own experiences as a swimmer, I have found it to do so many

things, depending on what I wanted it to do.

Why do athletes do this?

• When I am not excited for the race that is about to take place

(which strangely does happen to all athletes), listening to music alters my state of consciousness to be more "excited" and hence helps me to perform at a higher level, as your body needs to be "awake" when you are going to RACE!

• It can also do the opposite, if the moment seems too big and I seem too nervous,

listening to music can relax me and help me not to get too tense before a swim.

• If I want to remember some previous feelings or thoughts on other races.

I will listen to music which reminds me of that past race - doing this can bring positive

thoughts and emotions and even go as far as make my whole body remember what it

felt like. In doing this I can use my past race experiences to build up my present

performance.

• It can help me to get to that place were NOTHING is in my consciousness.

 I can let my body relax and just refuel, either before or even after a race. Some nights

before a big race I have found music could even help me sleep!

• Other times I might just not want to talk to anyone else before a race.

In putting my earphones on, I can achieve this without being rude to others.

When should you listen to music?

• Using music to help you perform is like everything else in sport.

 You need to know what works for you. We are all unique! There is also no unique music, which helps a swimmer swim fast. I have spoken to swimmers and they have all used different forms of music… anything from heavy metal or dance, to country.

• Sometimes you might not want any music

I have found in my own swimming career that I have used music less and less to help me perform and more purely for enjoyment.

• Always know that what works for one might not work for another.

Learn to listen to your body, mind and soul and do what your heart truly believes, as this is one of the most powerful forces in sport and in life. No matter what walk of life you come from, music is a gift that has been given to us by God. It has been used to send messages in political arenas, and has moved the hearts of millions of people…so whether you use it to help you in your swimming career or just for enjoyment.

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF MUSIC!